Mining State Forests in PA: What Is Alan Walker Thinking?

Alan Walker

Alan Walker, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, has proposed that we solve all of the state’s fiscal problems by taking a strip mine approach to the state forest.

Secretary Walker would do well to consider his duty under Article 1, Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution:

The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people.

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council is distressed about Walker's appointment as Secretary of PA's Department of Community and Economic Development.
PennFuture's comment on this is compelling.

We can't drink (un)natural gas!

Protect public lands!

No drilling in state forests!